The Poultry Keeper

crazypianolady · Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Posts: 365 Location: Nottinghamshire

Does anyone use branches as a perch for their hens? If you do, how did you prepare them before use? (I'm thinking mites, mould, etc)

NannyP · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 1:48 pm Post subject:

I use various different sizes, lengths and heights, and lay them around in the area the poultry are running. They can then chose which ones they want and at what level they want. I don't do anything to them, as in the wild branches are a natural perch.

If they were in a coop, or fixed small run, they would get pressure washed now and again, along with the housing.

mojo · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 3:54 pm Post subject:

just every few months burn them and give them new ones.......helps the redmites DIE

Spana · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 2026 Location: North Cornwall

I do use them but they are a lovely home for red mites. I do mine with a steam cleaner, red mites really hate it Twisted Evil

Itsybitsy · Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Posts: 1312 Location: Leicestershire

I've got a couple in one of my huts - I find the red mites congregate on the cut surfaces - where I have lopped off a smaller branch, it's quite handy cos I know where to go to find them Twisted Evil

In my other hut - which is a purpose built with perches they congregate on the ends of the perches and in any cracks underneath, so both lots of wood are home to mite but one is not worse than the other.

Itsybitsy

jaydee67 · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 9:13 pm Post subject:

We have branches in one part of our hen house and haven't had any probs - touch wood!

A pic of the 'big' end of the house - the hens threw the hay out of the nest boxes - they like to lay in the big one at the other end!